Sunday, July 20, 2008

Change can be good.

Yes, it's me -- Ms. Spontaneity-Has-Its-Time-and-Place -- beginning this post with a tribute to change. It is one of our beach weeks, but this year we are renting a different house in a different part of Cape May County. I'm very happy we made the change.

I had many fond memories of the house we used to rent, but last year was the tipping point for a bunch of irritations that had coalesced into major irritation. (And yes, I do realize how spoiled I am...) One was air conditioning, or more specifically, the lack thereof: the prior house had only 2 window units, one of which died last year midweek. It was miserable, especially for the bunny. Another was the bed situation. The master bedroom had a bed hammock instrument of torture that resulted in Tom and I being chronically tired and sleep-deprived. It got so bad last year that we brought down an air mattress the second week. After a night of the horrible bed, the air mattress seemed luxurious and we had a day or two where we each competed for the honor of sleeping on it, while the other one made do in the regular "bed" (which was slightly less uncomfortable with only one person sleeping in it). But even that wore off as we realized we were merely exchanging one kind of discomfort for another.

So we looked around and decided to rent a house further away from Cape May proper, in a more residential area. It is within walking distance to the beach but not within walking distance to the town of Cape May. However, I'm feeling very, very happy with the change. Here's the charming outside:

and the owners are clearly passionate about flowers:

This house has lots of excellent mojo, including the bunny-friendly doorway plaque:

and the owner's clear affection for handcrafts:

But, you ask, how does the most important member of the household like it?

No, not Elvis (although he got that nickname by fancying himself The King). He likes it, as you can see, but I was really referring to:

His Nibs.

He is very content, dreaming about all the gorgeous wildflowers in the front yard as he naps in air-conditioned splendor.